MARK ROBINS and his advisers felt the anger of Tranmere Rovers manager Ray Mathias and Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore last night after the player backed out of a loan move to Prenton Park.

Mathias said he was "disgusted" at the chain of events that saw the experienced Rotherham striker make a U-turn yesterday after agreeing to join Tranmere's second division promotion campaign earlier in the week.

Moore was so annoyed by Robins' behaviour that he pledged the player would not be allowed to move elsewhere on loan. "He can sit in the stands here instead," snapped Moore.

The two managers, former team mates and backroom colleagues at Tranmere, each blamed Robins' agents for souring the deal.

Mathias said the demands made by Robins' representatives for the one-month loan "were absolutely diabolical".

He added: "For people to come along and change players' minds in this way is a disgrace and I'm certainly upset about it."

Mathias believed he had secured the services of the well-travelled 33-year-old after speaking to Robins on Wednesday night.

"He gave me his word and we allowed him to play in a reserve game for Rotherham on Wednesday to sharpen up his match fitness," Mathias said.

"I spoke with him at 9.45am the following morning and nothing was said to indicate he had changed his mind.

"Then I got a phone call at 10.30am from Ronnie Moore to say the player might be changing his mind.

"At 12.30pm I got another call from Ronnie to say that Mark would not be coming to Tranmere.

"The player did not get back in touch to let me know about the decision. Nor did the agent get back in touch to let me know about the decision.

"I'm very disappointed.

"Ronnie Moore is as disgusted as I am with everything that had happened. He gave me an assurance that the lad would be signing for us.

"I think Ronnie has done what he has done because the lad went against his word."

Moore said: "I think the agent is still after getting Mark a move to Barnsley when they get their transfer embargo lifted, but I can tell him that won't happen. He won't go to Barnsley or anywhere else."

Robins, who is currently out of the first team picture at Rotherham, asked to be released on loan earlier this month.

Mathias saw Robins as the ideal player to take some of the pressure off leading marksman Simon Haworth, who lost his regular striking partner Stuart Barlow to injury last week.

Mathias said: "As soon as we made our interest known in Mark we had a lot of phone calls asking for this, that and the other. The demands for a one-month loan were absolutely diabolical.

"We are not Manchester United. We are Tranmere Rovers and I have to look after how we spend our budget for players.

"I have a lot of respect for what Mark Robins has done in the game. He gave me an assurance and after speaking to him I believed he would be loyal. I think someone has influenced his mind."

The collapse of the deal leaves Mathias with a dilemma for tomorrow's encounter with fellow promotion hopefuls Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

Barlow, who missed last Saturday's home defeat by Swindon with groin and knee problems was able to resume light training yesterday, but remains a doubtful starter.

Mathias was happy to report no new injury problems.

* TRANMERE> Rovers claimed a place in the semi-finals of the Football League Youth Alliance Cup with a 3-1 win over Walsall.

Striker Chris Dagnall was Tranmere's hat-trick hero, taking his goals tally for the season to 32.

Tranmere made a poor start however and Patrick Bannister put Walsall ahead after five minutes.

Dagnall equalised soon afterwards by converting a free-kick from Alan Griffiths. He wasted little time in putting Tranmere ahead by finishing off some good work by Paul Brown.

Dagnall completed his treble just before half-time, heading home a cross from Steve Jennings.